--Coach Scott Brooks hasn't spent much time contemplating how he will fill an assistant coaching vacancy created when Paul Westhead was fired along with P.J. Carlesimo two weeks ago.

"I'll look at it more the next couple of days," Brooks said. "Obviously it puts a lot of work on all of us to do extra. Our guys are willing to do that. We have no problems hiding from work. It could still be some time."

--Even though the Thunder put forth a valiant effort at Charlotte, carelessness was its undoing. Oklahoma City shot a season-high 54.5 percent, including 63.6 percent beyond the arc, but committed 19 turnovers leading to 24 points.

"We didn't do a good job of taking care of the ball," Scott Brooks said. "We've got to get better with that."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Defense is effort. We have to be willing to stop our guy. Individual pride, No. 1, then technique comes second. All our guys have to challenge themselves to stop their man from scoring." -- Thunder coach Scott Brooks.